By Katherine Harding, Office of Communications and Marketing

Auburn University mascot Aubie was awarded the Universal Cheerleaders Association National Championship for an unprecedented seventh time in a competition held last week in Orlando, Fla.

"Aubie continues to set the example for the model mascot program in the country," said Corey Edwards, director of the Office of Student Involvement. "The competition is based around the production of a skit. Although there are rules for the number and size of props being used as well as a strict time requirement, it is completely up in the air after that."

Aubie is no stranger to the competition or to winning. He won this title in 1991, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2006 and came in second place five times and third place three times. The head friend of Aubie called Aubie a "legend among mascots."

Aubie's winning skit was titled "Aubie's Saturday" and featured Aubie's Saturday routine from watching morning cartoons through Saturday Night Live with a finale based on a Saturday Night Live skit.

Competing for the title is no easy endeavor and began with the Universal Cheerleaders Association summer camp. While there, Aubie won Camp Champion, or best overall mascot. Mascots then submitted a two-minute highlight video showing their involvement in school events, sporting games, community activities and public events during the past year.

"Most people will never know how much hard work and preparation go into making a two-minute video and a one-minute 30-second skit," explained the head friend of Aubie. "It feels great to finally see Aubie bring home the gold again!"

According to the Universal Cheerleaders Association website, categories the mascots could be judged on in the first round of scoring were overall character development, game situations, crowd involvement, cheer and band integration, community service, non-sporting events and the overall impression. Scoring well in these categories sent the mascots on to a second round. Aubie placed first in the video portion of the competition which sent him to Disney World to compete for the title.

In the second round, Aubie competed against nine other mascots in his division. He was judged on categories such as crowd appeal and interaction, creativity, animation and enthusiasm, prop usage and again, overall impression.